A Courageous Heart

"A brave person is a yogi who will withdraw all the senses inwardly and try to realize the inner purity. By watching others, we have lost ourselves and lost our inner purity. With yoga practice, you slowly get detached from everything and look inside and try to realize the purest form within." ~ R. Sharath Jois 

The act of simply stepping onto our yoga mat takes courage. It is here where we often come face to face with our greatest fears, our past hurts, and our most deeply stored emotions.  To address these things takes a courageous heart. Yoga teaches us to bring our awareness deep within ourselves, to cultivate compassion and love for ourselves, and to maintain a steady, calm, and serene mind in the face of our greatest challenges. 

Each time you practice, you come closer to yourself. And when we get to know ourselves, then we truly begin to cultivate compassion for ourselves. The practice of ahimsa (non-harming) applies to social ethics and how we treat the world around us, but it also addresses how we use and treat our own body. Fighting through pain (true pain, as opposed to discomfort) or forcing our way into poses our bodies haven't opened up to yet only do damage. They create bad habits, samskaras, or marks, essentially, that get etched into our being and hold us back. Yoga helps us to erase those old marks by focusing on what lies deep within. 

I love balance poses for the single-pointedness that it insists we find. In a balance pose we address the practice of Dharana, in which we focus on a single point (a drishti) or a task, such as breathing.  With calm, focused concentration, we rid our minds of distractions, in other words, our thoughts. When our thoughts interrupt the steadiness of our mind, they also interrupt our physical balance.  Our physical body needs things for balance such as core strength, but it is our inner state that has the biggest impact. It is within, without thoughts from the external world, radiating from the very center of our heart, that we find our true courage and our strength.

Finding balance on the mat requires us to come to our center. It requires a steady mind, steady breath, and a steady gaze. When our world feels out of balance we tend to forget to breath. Yoga reminds us to find and mindfully use our prana, our life giving energy, and to direct it to the parts of our body that need it. Outside of our practice, it's easy to become overwhelmed by challenges and tasks. We forget to look within and remember what is truly important. Yoga teaches us to direct our energies mindfully and purposefully, sending it to things that need it and letting go of those things that do not.

In doing so, we begin to clear the clutter - in our mind and in our lives. We begin to build a strong, steady, and clear, mind.  With a clear, pure mind, we can accomplish anything. We will not falter when we come up against challenges. Instead, we will face them with serenity and calm.  Yoga invites us to focus our attention inward and to direct energy into those places of the body that need it. It shows us that our job is not to waste energy on things that are not ready to receive it but to send our energy to all that is open to it. We remember what is important when we draw inward and connect with our courageous heart. 

As we draw deeper into our practice, stripping away the veils of the external world that have covered our eyes, we may want to bring our new-found understanding to the rest of the world. When we are faced with resistance, especially from those we love or who are close to us, we may feel angry or disappointed that they won't see things our way...but this is where we must stop and remember all that yoga has already shown us. Our energy is wasted on those not ready to receive. "Your work is not to drag the world, kicking and screaming into a new awareness. Your job is simply to do your work...Sacredly, secretly, silently...and those with 'eyes to see and ears to hear' will respond." (The Arcturians)

~Namaste

Strength in Stillness

"When you lose touch with your inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world." ~Eckhart Tolle

Deep down, we are all always still, all the time.  Each one of us is like a mountain, standing tall and strong, weathering the elements on the exterior without changing on the inside.  We all have this stillness within. Amidst the constant activity, the unceasing movement of the world around us, there is always stillness, however, most people are not aware of it. We tend to identify with what our mind tells us, what our thoughts or our ego describe.  The Yoga Sutras state that "a mind free from all disturbances is Yoga." When we practice yoga, we practice letting to of our thoughts and our distractions.  Our yoga practice is our time to find and connect with stillness. The stillness is release from the activity of our mind. When we are in stillness, we are at peace, we are present, we are our true selves. 

"Yoga is a way of moving into stillness in order to experience the truth of who you are. The practice of yoga is the practice of meditation - or inner listening - in the poses and meditations, as well as all day long. It's a matter of listening inwardly for guidance all the time, and then daring enough and trusting enough to do as you are prompted to do."

To listen truthfully and honestly to ourselves requires courage and strength. True strength comes from within. It comes when we can be still and serene in the face of calamity. When we can breathe and respond when we become angry or upset. Strength is about more than our physical strength, although that too is important to keep our bodies young and healthy. When we come to our mat, we build physical strength while at the same time building our inner strength. We learn to breathe through challenging poses, we learn to listen to our body and honor it when it tells us to stop or rest. As we tune in to our body we tune in to our inner selves, to our breath, and to our inner strength.

"Calmness is the rarest quality in human life. It is the poise of a great nature, in harmony with life and it's ideals."

Contagious Energy

"In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself."
-Jiddu Krishnamurti

The entire universe consists of energy. And that energy is connected. From our inner selves to the exterior world, from the breath that leaves our lungs to the wind that blows through the air. From the words we speak to the actions we perform, to the state of the Universe. Thus, when one piece of this interwoven bond is imbalanced, that imbalance is manifested in other parts as well. In our physical body, for example, if one part of the body is not functioning or moving properly, it causes an imbalance, and often injury, in another part. Internally, if we are emotionally distressed, anxious, or depressed, that imbalance of negative over positive mental states causes physical illness. And externally, this connection is integrated into the type of energy we put into our actions, words, and interactions with others and with our surroundings. In other words, what you put out into the universe is felt, noticed, and experienced by others whether you realize it or not.

So when we practice yoga, we begin to understand that we have the key to change our lives and the lives of others. Through our practice, we learn to harness positive and meaningful energy. We learn that simply by practicing yoga, something in us changes. That change is a shift in energy. It is noticed, felt, and seen, if only subtly, by all those we encounter.

One way that we generate that shift is through the breath. Our breath is our live giving energy source. It is part of our connection to the universe. Breath is our reminder to respond, not react. The energy we harness with our breath has the power to transform a situation, our outlook, and even our life. Negative energy begets negativity. When we bring it into a situation, we receive negativity back. But when we bring positive energy, we receive positive energy, or we at least deflect the negative energy. The next time you face a challenging situation or person, come back to your breath and put all of your awareness on it. The sound it makes as it filters in through your nose and fills up your lungs, the way your chest and rib cage expand and relax. Notice the way your reactive thoughts begin to fade. Take that negative energy and transform it into a positive, peaceful response.

In the same way, the energy that you bring to your mat has the power to shape your practice. Before you come into even your first asana, you can determine what kind of practice you will have. A positive outlook, appreciation for your body and what it can do, gratitude for the uniqueness of your practice, and even a sense of humor when you slip out of a pose or loose your balance, are attitudes that bring positive energy to your space and the space around you. Energy is contagious, so spread the good instead of the bad. 

"Everything changes when you start to emit your own frequency rather than absorbing the frequencies around you, when you start imprinting your intent on the universe rather than receiving an imprint from existence."
-Unknown

The Study of Balance

“Yoga is a practice of walking into your fear everyday and facing it head on, until there is no more fear.” - Blue Osa Yoga

As humans, we have developed a habit of walking on our feet rather than our hands. This habit is so ingrained into our way of life that the very idea of inverting ourselves (going upside down) makes many people fearful or uncertain. In fact, hearing a yoga instructor tell you you're going to be balancing on your hands (or your head) may strike fear and uncertainty into your heart or it may bring out excitement and playfulness. Going upside down allows us to focus on letting go of fear and testing our limits. We focus on inviting in a new perspective and discovering of what we are truly capable. Inviting inversions into your practice literally gives you a new perspective. It allows you to accept change and work through challenges and fear, finding centered-ness and balance. Finding our centered-ness in our practice opens the door to centered-ness in our lives. 

"Yoga is the study of balance, and balance is the aim of all living creatures: it is our home." ~Rolf Gates

In the balancing act of our lives, we are faced with things which we must either hold onto and cherish, or let go and release. We make decisions every day that either bring balance into our lives, or throw us out of balance. Everything from what we eat, to how we treat ourselves and those around us, to the way in which we view our life situation determines our state of balance or imbalance. Our inner energy state determines the outer energy that we project to others and the energy that we bring into the world. When our energy is out of balance, focusing too much on the negative, our world becomes a place of negativity. Negative energy, fear based emotions, and living too much inside our minds throws us out of balance. Negativity breeds illness and depression, positivity breeds happiness and health. Finding balance, in our lives and on our mat, is about making ourselves whole, about finding inner peace. Opposites must exist in this world, but they must come together to be whole. Without darkness, there could be no light. Without silence there could be no sound. When we practice handstand, or any inversion, we progress first to letting go of the fear of being upside down, of using our bodies and seeing things in a different way. Once that fear has passed, we work to build the physical strength to go upside down. Once the strength is built, we look for space. The space where we become whole - where we turn our world around and where we find our balance.

"It is a cosmic principle that we either live in imbalance or act to create balance. Though we may be comfortable in imbalance (which we often perceive as balance), we cannot grow in such a state. It is through shining light on that which we are not that we illuminate the road to progress." ~Aadil Palkhivala

When we give up on fear and negative energy, we free ourselves. We are free to explore new possibilities, to discover our limits and to be in awe at what we can accomplish. The act of purposely turning our world upside down, of standing on our hands instead of our feet, is a lesson in cultivating a new outlook. It changes the directional flow of our energy. It boosts immunity, builds confidence while at the same time humbling us. It teaches us patience and faith - faith to take the leap into an upside down perspective and patience to practice .

"Change is not something that we should fear. Rather, it is something that we should welcome. For without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom, and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they're meant to be. " ~Anon.

Transitions

Your life is a sacred journey. It is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path… exactly where you are meant to be right now… And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love.” ~ by Caroline Adams  

Last week, my asana practices focused on core strength and on energizing and mindfully using our core. The core is not only a physical space but an energetic one as well. It "is what supports us spiritually in our lives, and physically in our yoga practice. If our core is weak, the ups and downs of life are much harder to take. A strong core makes us more resilient." (Rachel Brahinsky, Yoga Journal). Physically, a strong core increases our digestive fire, holds us upright, and protects our low back. In our practice, it allows us to float into and out of poses, to keep our balance steady, and to conquer advanced poses like headstand, jump backs, jump throughs, handstands, and so on.

Meanwhile, our inner, spiritual connection emphasized change - both internal and external. As we move into fall, change is upon us; the leaves change colors, the weather begins to cool, and days become shorter. While this time of year is one that reminds us of change, change is not reserved for autumn. Change is constant. Nothing in this world is permanent.  Each day is a new day, each practice a new practice. We know that everything in this world is constantly changing, shifting, evolving, and transforming. Our yoga practice changes each time we step to the mat, our life situation changes day by day, if only subtly. Our challenge is to invite change - to accept it and to honor it, without labeling it as good or bad. In reality, there is no such thing as good and bad. We make things good or bad by labeling them as such. Change is just change. So if everything in this world is temporary, constantly changing, how we handle change and transition is important. Consider how you handle transitions in your practice. Do you move gracefully? Are you focusing on Now or what the pose of the person next to you looks like? Do your feet land with a thud or with no sound at all?  Are you breathing with the poses? That space between the poses is important. Sacred, even. Just as the space between the hustle and bustle of our daily lives is sacred. As we become more grounded and strong through the transitions in our practice, we can carry that strength to the transitions and changes we face in our daily lives.

When we practice, we are often seeking an end result. We want our poses to look a certain way and so we develop the habit, often, of putting our bodies into a pose with the intention of achieving some specific result or look. Your practice is not about appearance, achievement, touching your toes, or coming into a perfect headstand from Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide Leg Forward Fold). Its not about the external result but rather an internal shift in awareness of your body, your alignment, and the habits you've developed over time. Pay special attention to each pose, to how you use your core, and to your alignment, and find YOUR perfect pose as it is that day. Each practice is your best practice, because it was the one you were intended to have that day. Remember, "its not about touching your toes. Its about what you learn on the way down."

Be content with your practice, and with your life, as it is, while also allowing for change. Change, after all, is the only consistent thing in this world. You are here to grow, to heal, to evolve, to practice, and to BE. Embrace whatever it is that you bring to your mat each day and whatever comes into your life at each moment.

"It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, but life is on a stroll."
~Donald Miller

  

Breathe...

"We too should make ourselves empty, that the great soul of the universe may fill us with its breath." ~Laurence Binyon

Your breath is your pranayama. Your life-giving energy force. Pranayama is the 4th limb of Patanjali's 8 Limbed Path described in the Yoga Sutras.  We cannot live without our breath, yet we take breathing for granted. The breath frees our mind of distractions, rids our bodies of toxins, and is the link to our higher self. When we use our breath mindfully and purposefully, listening to the sound and feeling and flow of our breath, we open up the channels of energy and harmony in our bodies.  Each time you step onto your mat, each day you awaken, give yourself permission to flow into and out of each pose or into and out of each situation in which you find yourself.  Take time to bring your awareness back to your breath, and simply be.

We all lose our path, lose concentration, fall out of poses, forget to breathe.  When these things happen, you can allow it to be OK, or allow it to distract and cause you worry.  The only person who can take away your happiness is you.  By returning to our breath, focusing on the very act of breathing, we can clear our minds of distractions. When you find yourself feeling stressed, anxious, or challenged, on your mat or in your daily life, begin to listen to your breath. The oceanic-like sound and rhythm of the breath naturally calms and quiets our thoughts. Make it your intention to be fully aware and engaged with your breath in each and every moment.

"The practice is simply this: keep coming back to your breath during the day. Just take a moment. This will give your mind a steadiness and your breath a gracefulness.... There’s so much to let go of, isn’t there? Your nostalgia and your regrets. Your fantasies and your fears. What you think you want instead of what is happening right now. Breathe." ~Rodney Yee, Yoga: The Poetry of the Body

A steady, conscious breath is all you need to bring yourself into the present moment. What is happening now is all that matters. Whatever happened yesterday, an hour ago, a second ago, is over and done. What is going to happen has not yet happened and will happen, no matter what. All that we know for sure is Now. When you return to your breath, you connect with joy, freedom, serenity, and peace. Your breath is your path to contentment. When we empty ourselves of our thoughts, our worries, our fears, our desires, we make space within to fill ourselves with all that truly exists - light, love, peace, and happiness.

"Yoga is about clearing away whatever is in us that prevents our living in the most full and whole way. With yoga, we become aware of how and where we are restricted -- in body, mind, and heart -- and how gradually to open and release these blockages. As these blockages are cleared, our energy is freed. We start to feel more harmonious, more at one with ourselves. Our lives begin to flow -- or we begin to flow more in our lives."
~Cybele Tomlinson

Uniting Body and Breath

"Yoga is about clearing away whatever is in us that prevents our living in the most full and whole way. With yoga, we become aware of how and where we are restricted -- in body, mind, and heart -- and how gradually to open and release these blockages. As these blockages are cleared, our energy is freed. We start to feel more harmonious, more at one with ourselves. Our lives begin to flow -- or we begin to flow more in our lives."

~Cybele Tomlinson

Yoga is more than the physical practice with which most of us are familiar. In Patanjali's 8 Limbed Path, in the Yoga Sutras, the Asanas, or physical postures, are the 3rd limb, following the Yamas and Niyamas. The intention of the asanas is to prepare the body for meditation. In Western culture, we tend to associate the asanas with physical fitness. Yet it is through the asanas that we develop the discipline, concentration, and inner awareness to transform ourselves and our practice. The unnecessary parts of this world fade away and we are left with breath, body, movement, and spirit.

When we come to our mat, we are often told to connect with our breath. To breathe and move. We can use our breath to calm our mind, body, and spirit. When you come into a pose, allow the posture, with help from your breath, to release tension. Be aware of where you're holding and exhale it away. "The posture of yoga is steady and easy." This is how Patanjali describes the asanas. To free our minds of distractions, and thus be totally at peace, we must also free our bodies of distractions. Tension held in our muscles, or pain in some part of our body, distracts our mind. As we move through our physical practice, the union of breath, body, and movement, calms the mind. Patanjali said, "Posture is mastered by freeing the body and mind from tension and restlessness and meditating on the infinite." The infinite and united light that connects us all to one another and the entire universe. Through our breath we connect to each pose and we connect with our practice. Yoga is about this connection of breath, body, and spirit. Yoga means union - the union of our individual self with our highest self. Through the practice of yoga we can make that connection.

You are yoga. You are the union with each object, each living creature, with each person you see, and with the entire universe.

"You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state." (Sharon Gannon)

The Journey Inward

"Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakes." 

~Carl Jung

Aristotle said "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." Each time you come to your yoga mat, you reunite with a little bit more of your true self.  When you come to your practice, take the time to notice how your body, your mind, and your spirit feel. Observe what is going on inside - how each pose feels, what changes you notice when your settle into your savasana. This inward observation of oneself is the fourth of the Niyamas, or active observances of the Yoga Sutras, and is known as Svadhyaya, meaning "study of one's self." The self-awareness that you cultivate during your yoga practice is the foundation of Svadhyaya. Through this practice, we open the door to self-acceptance and self-compassion. We open the door to acceptance and compassion for all that exists around us, and we open the door to true wisdom - enlightenment.

To fully draw inward, you must remember that your yoga practice is internal. Think of yourself as alone in your practice. Whether you are packed in elbow to elbow, or by yourself in the room, you are there with nothing more than your body and your breath. There is no judgement, no comparison, no perfect or imperfect pose. Let the rest of the space fade away, look within and reunite with, honor, and love yourself. It is only when we truly come to know ourselves, when everything on the exterior drops away that we are truly happy and at peace.

"As you peel it back, in the heart of nothing, that is love. You are what you are seeking. Life is a set up so that each of us can actually see in ourselves the truth for ourselves. What gets taken away are all the exterior means we thought we wanted love to come to us. You have the choice to notice the perfect set up to see love is exactly what you are."

~Adyashanti 

The fifth of the Niyamas, Ishvara Pranidhana, is the devotion, and surrender of your practice to a higher power. This is where we give ourselves over to something greater than ourselves.  Where we dissolve our ego and disengage with our self-determined identification. When we let go and surrender our thoughts, our desires, our egoic nature and give ourselves over to a higher power, we can reach past our attachments; attachments to belongings, attachments to a perfect practice or pose, attachments to what we think our lives should be like, and surrender to something greater. Our yoga practice thus becomes sacred and full of grace.

“Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.” 

~Ray Bradbury.